Henry barcroft



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. BAROROFT. APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING VESSELS. No. 441,050. Patented Nov. 18, 1890.

(N0 Model.) 3 Shee ts Sheet 2.

.H. BAROROFT. APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING VBSSBLS.

No; 441,050. Patented'Novi. 18, 1890.

m: mmms vzrzns cm, mom-mum, vusnmomn, u. c.

(No Model.) 3 She'tsSheet 3f H. BARGROFT.

APPARATUS FOR PROPELLIN-G AND STEERING VBSSBLS.

Patented Nov. 18, 1890.

1 1m um um 5 tion, and Fig. 3 a plan.

,NITED STATES ATENT Fries.

HENRY BARCROFT, OF NEWVRY, IRELAND.

APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,050, dated November 18, 1890.

Application filed March 22, 1890. Serial No. 344,935. (No model.)

5 Ireland, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Propelling and Steering Boats and other Navigable Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object the propulro sion of a boat, more particularlya canal-boat,

in such a way as not to interfere appreciably With the carrying capacity of the boat, and to do this with a less percentage of loss between the power exerted and that actually I 5 expended in moving the boat than has heretofore been attained. In addition to this general object, I in some cases so construct the apparatus that in addition to propelling the boat it will also effect the steering thereof,

2:; thus dispensing with the use of an ordinary rudder. peller-blades or two sets of propeller-blades, constructed in a similar manner to oars or For this purpose I employ two prosculls, and having a reciprocating or sculling 2 5 motion imparted to them, the motion in the direction for propelling the boat being performed while the blades are submerged and the return motion while they are in a raised position out of the water. The blades are placed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the boat, so as in moving through the water in a direction transversely to such axis to propel the boat forward, as in ordinary soulling at the stern, and the one blade or set of 3 blades is set at the opposite angle to that of the other blade or set of blades, and also performs its working-stroke in the opposite direction, so that the side-thrust exercised by I the one propeller, tending to make the boat deviate from astraight course, is counteracted by the opposite side-thrust exercised by the other blade.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation, Fig. 2 an end eleva- Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of the arrangement with an adj ustable sleeve for the crank-connection with the arm of the propeller-blade.

Fig. 5 is a diagram indicating the motion of the propeller-blades.

A B are the two propeller-blades, the arms A B of which are connected to cranks O D on shafts C D, which are driven in contrary directions, the shaft C being driven by any suitable motor-engine, and the shaft D being driven in the contrary direction by means of the bevel-gearing E. The two cranks O D may either be arranged, as shown, so as to cause the propeller-blades to perform their working-strokes alternately, or they may be arranged so as to cause them to perform their working-strokes simultaneously; but the former arrangement is preferred, as by that means the work on the motor-engine is better equalized.

The upper ends of the arms A B slide through eyes F G, provided with trunnions that can turn in bearings H I, secured adjustably to uprights J K. Thus it will be seen that by the rotation of the cranks the blades are made to move in approximately oval paths, which paths are so adjusted relatively to the water-line that when performing the propelling motion the blades are im-- mersed in the water, while when performing the return motion they are raised out of the Water. Fig. 5 shows a diagram of the description of motion produced.

The shafts, with the propellers, as also the uprightsJ K, are all carried by the swiveling platform L, pivoted to the deck and carrying any suitable motor-engine on the inner end, which imparts motion to the shaft C direct or by toothed gearing M. The platform is moved by a tiller-handle N or by other suitable steering-gear for effecting the steering by imparting a more or less angular position to the propellers. The motor-engines might also be arranged amidships and rotary motion be imparted therefrom to the propeller-shaft O on the turn-table through a bevel-Wheel mounted on the pivot of the turn-table, with which gears, respectively, a' bevel-pinion on shaft 0 and another bevel-pinion on the engine-shaft.

For connecting the crank-pins to the propeller-arms, the latter are constructed of two separate tubular parts, which are screwed or otherwise secured to a central piece 0, having an eye through which the crank-pin passes.

For the purpose of adjusting the stroke of the propellers the arms A B, instead of being arranged as above described, may carry movable sleeves P, (shown to an enlarged scale at Fig. 4,) which are fixed in any desired position on the arm by setscrews Q, and which have loops in which work the pins of the cranks C D. V a

The propeller-arms may be made telescopic, as described in the specification to my application for a similar purpose bearing even date herewith, Serial No. 344,933, and in order, when they are extended, not to increase unduly the extent of their lateral stroke the bearings 11 I of the upper eyes F G can be moved higher up on the uprights J K, so as by removing the trunnion-point farther from the crank to reduce the angle of the stroke.

By the above-described construction the advantages are obtained, first, that the blades in their action take up considerably less space transversely than revolving propeller-blades, which is of importance in narrow waterways, such as canals; and, secondly, that as the blades, with their arms, are immersed into and withdrawn from the water in a longitudinal direction there is no liability for them to become obstructed by weeds. The crank-shafts that impart motion to these propellers are situated above the water line, so that there is no loss of power inseparable from water-tight bearings, &'c., and they may be either in fixed positions relatively to the boat, which in this case is provided with an ordinary rudder, or they, together with the blades, may be moun ted upon arevoluble platform orturn-table upon or beneaththe deck, which is movedin one direction or the other either by an ordinary tillerbar or by other steering-gear, so as to bring the shafts and propellers into more or less angular positions relatively to the longitudinal axis of the boat,'so that by the oblique thrust exercised by their propellers they effect both the propelling and steering of the boat.

I do not herein broadly claim the combination of two sets of propeller-blades mounted on independent shafts adapted to revolve in opposite directions, the blades being fixed in opposite angular positions, with a revoluble turn-table or platform carried by the boat above the water-line, upon which platform are mounted the shafts of the two sets of blades, so that by turning the platform the shafts and propeller-blades can be brought into angular positions relatively to the longitudinal axis of the boat for simultaneously propelling and steering the same, as such combination constitutes the subject'mattcr of my application, Serial No. 344,934, filed of even date herewith.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and the best means I know for carrying the same into practical eifect,I claim- 1. Apparatus for propelling boats, consisting of two propeller-blades receiving a reciprocating or sculling motion by means of two crank shafts revolving in contrary directions, the angular position of the one blade being the reverse of that of the other blade and the propelling-strokes being made to take place in contrary directions when the blades are submerged, while the return-stroke takes place when the blades are raised out of the water, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for propelling boats, two propeller-blades inclined at opposite angles and mounted on arms whose upper ends slide through trunnioned eyes, while at an inter-- mediate point they are connected to the pins of cranks adapted to revolve in opposite di rections, so that each crank impart-s to its propeller-blade a combined reciprocating and up-and down motion, such that'duri'ng one part of such motion the blades are performing the propelling-stroke while in a sub merged position, While during another part of such motion the bladesare performing the return-stroke while raised out of the water, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus for propelling boats, two propeller-blades inclined at opposite angles and mounted on arms whose upper parts are made to work in guides, whileat an intermediate point they are connected to the cranks of two crank shafts revolving in contrary directions, the said crank shafts and guides being mounted on a revoluble frame carried by the boat above the water line and capable of being moved by a tiller or other steering apparatus for the purpose of bringing the crank-shafts and propeller-blades into dilferent angular positions relatively to the longitudinal axis of the boat for the-purpose of both propelling and steering the boat, substantially as described.

at. In apparatus for propelling boats, two propeller blades inclined at opposite angles and mounted on arms whose upper parts are made to Work in guides, while at an intermediate point they are connected to the cranks of two crank shafts revolving in contrary directions, the said guides and crank-shafts, as also the motor actuating the same, being mounted on a revoluble frame carried by IIO the boat above the water-line and capable of 1 diate point they are connected to the cranks two subscribing witnesses, this 36. day of 10 of two crank-shafts revolving in contrary di- March, A. D. 1890.

rections the said arms of the propeller-blades being made telescopic for adjusting their HENRY BAROROFT" 5 length to the draft of the boat, means being Vitnesses:

provided for securing the parts of the arms MORIARITY GONNELL, in the positions to which they are adjusted. Solicitor, N awry,

In testimony whereof I have signed my SIMON F. HAURALLY,

name to this specification, in the presence of Solicitors Apprentice, N awry. 

